Company information

Seeds of success

Faso Kaba’s mission is to produce and supply better seeds to help prevent malnutrition in Mali and participate in the country’s development. “Not only do the seeds sold by Faso Kaba give farmers higher yields and increase their income through the sales of their products, but they are also nutritionally rich for both humans and animals, containing vitamins A and E,” says Founder Maïmouna Sidibe Coulibaly.

The business, which Maïmouna founded in 2007, has received support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and private equity firm Injaro Investments. “The support received from Agra allowed us to start collaborating with research institutions in Mali, which provided us with improved varieties of seeds,” says Maïmouna. “Through the partnership with Injaro Investments, Faso Kaba acquired seed production equipment that not only increased our production volume but also improved the quality of our products.”

“Seeds sold by Faso Kaba give farmers higher yields and are nutritionally rich”

Such backing has helped the company to partner with local and international institutions, as well as gain the confidence of local banks. As a result, Faso Kaba has grown rapidly in recent years, more than doubling its sales from 700 tonnes of certified seeds in 2011 to more than 1,600 tonnes by 2015. The firm has now set its sights on increasing production capacity further, producing seeds that are adapted to West African climates and extending its distribution network.

Government policies should help. “Due to the low adoption rate of improved seeds by farmers, since 2013 the Government has been buying improved seeds in bulk for distribution throughout the country,” explains Maïmouna. “NGOs are also buying huge volumes of seeds. These actions will create important demand and the seed industry is expected to keep growing in the coming years.”

1,600 tonnes of certified seeds were sold by Faso Kaba in 2015, compared to 700 tonnes in 2011